PM Modi addresses the nation from the Red Fort.Independence Day Live Updates, August 15: In his address for the 76th Independence Day at the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the collective spirit of 130 crores, the “Team India”, to take the country forward and ensure that it is a developed nation in the next 25 years. PM Modi laid down five resolves, or the “panch pran” for the ‘amrit kaal’: To work towards a ‘viksit Bharat‘ (developed India), remove any vestiges of colonialism, retain our roots, ensure unity in diversity, and carry out a citizen’s duties. He highlighted that corruption and dynastic politics were the two biggest challenges in India.
As he began his address, PM Modi stated that it was a historic day for India as it takes a new path with a new resolve. He emphasised that India’s strength lies in its diversity, calling it the “mother of democracy”.
Ahead of his speech at the Red Fort, PM Modi unfurled the National Flag amid a 21-gun salute by the indigenously developed howitzer gun, ATAGS. This was followed by a shower of flower petals by helicopters. Earlier in the day, PM Modi visited Rajghat to pay his respects.
Dress rehearsal for the 75th Independence Day at Manekshaw Parade Grounds, in Bengaluru. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)
Sweets were exchanged between BSF troops and Pakistan Rangers at the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's RS Pura to mark the occasion of India's Independence.
ANI
A little more than 20 years after the 1857 revolt, variously described as the ‘first war of Independence’ and the ‘sepoy mutiny’, was crushed and the British Crown replaced the East India Company in ruling India, a fresh series of attacks began to target British interests in the country.
In Pune, Major Henry William Daniell, District Superintendent of Police, received information that the leader of the rebels was Vasudev Balwant Phadke. In 1879, the British government posted a lookout notice for Phadke and announced a princely sum of Rs 4,000 as reward for his capture. Ironically, Phadke had been “a trusted and pampered clerk” in the office of the Military Finance Department until a few years ago. Read more
As India celebrates 75 years of Independence, we take a look at the country's performance along several variables like GDP, average income, human development index and more.
Data shows that the incomes of the poorer half of India have barely improved over three decades in comparison to the incomes of the top half.
In 2013, India was home to the most number of poor people in the world. The data for this is almost a decade old but part of the problem is that India has not bothered to assess the level of poverty for over a decade. Read Udit Misra's explainer here
Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit writes: The journey of India at 75 to India at 100 makes me think of many things. But there are two things in particular that capture my imagination: Making higher education more Indo-centric and reducing the gender gap at the top. Even after 75 years of Independence, women have a long way to go. The journey towards equality and equity with inclusion is still long and tedious and appears to be a pipe dream. Read more
In a first, an indigenously developed howitzer gun, ATAG, became part of the 21-gun salute during the Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort Monday. Developed by the DRDO, the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) was used alongside the traditional British-origin ’25 Pounders’ artillery guns. Read about ATAGS here
A standard narrative exists about the role of Muslims during the Partition in India, which talks about how the Muslim community, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his Muslim League, stood for the two-nation theory and demanded the Partition of India. Historical documents, however, suggest that a majority of the Muslims opposed the Partition and stayed in India. Read Adrija Rowchowdhury's research here
What have been the most compelling works in the arts and in literature in India in the last 75 years? The anniversary gives us a chance to consider the question anew, but the answer is more difficult to arrive at than we assume. After all, we love our cultural icons much more than we do their work.
In the ’80s, another break or fissure, more significant than Independence, begins to appear, to do with the onset of globalisation and the free market, the ascendancy of English, the creation of a neoliberal elite, and the gradual rise of the Right. All of these were formalised in India in 1991 by both economic deregulation and the assault on the Babri Masjid. Whether, since 1991, we have been ‘free’ – in our dreams, our imagination, and our thoughts and actions – is moot. Read more
On the 75th anniversary of India’s independence, we bring you a special episode of the '3 Things' podcast in which we ask three people — a political scientist, an economist, and a filmmaker — about what they think is worth celebrating on this occasion.
Host Shashank Bhargava is joined by Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Jayati Ghosh, and Saeed Akhtar Mirza as they answer this question, and share their anxieties about contemporary India, and what gives them hope. Tune in!
More from India
India is celebrating 75 years of Independence. This year, the BJP government launched the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign to mark the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mohatsav'.
To mark 75 years of Independence, soldiers at Siachen hoisted the National Flag at the highest battlefield in the world, ANI reported.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday said India got freedom after a lot of struggle and it needs to be self-reliant.
Addressing a gathering at the RSS headquarters in Maharashtra's Nagpur city after hoisting the national flag on India's 76th Independence Day, Bhagwat said the country will give the message of peace to the world.
He also said people should think what they can give to the country rather than ask what the country or society is giving them.
"Today is the day of pride and resolution. The country got freedom after a lot of struggle, it needs to be self-reliant. Those who want to be independent need to become self-reliant in everything," he said. (PTI)
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann hoisted that flag at the Guru Nanak Dev Stadium in Ludhiana to mark Independence Day 2022.
Express Photos by Gurmeet Singh
🔴 India is the mother of democracy. India has seen a lot of ups and downs in the last 75 years. There have been sorrows as well as achievements in these years. We faced natural calamities, wars and other problems. But unity in diversity became our guiding power.
🔴 In the coming years, we have to focus on Panchpran (five promises) — First, to move forward with bigger resolves and a resolve of developed India; second, erase all traces of servitude; third, be proud of our legacy; fourth, focus on our strength of unity; and fifth, fulfil the duties of citizens with honesty, which should be done by the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers as well.
🔴 Corruption, nepotism two main challenges. Until and unless people have the mentality of penalizing the corrupt, the nation cannot progress at the optimum pace. Read more
Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his speech at the Red Fort calling upon the collective spirit of Indians to take the country forward.
NCC cadets formed the map of India at the Red Fort as the Prime Minister's speech concluded. PM Modi interacted with the cadets and watched as they performed dances from their state.
The spirit of "Team India" will take the country forward and help fulfill the dreams of 130 crore Indians, said PM Modi, before concluding his speech at the Red Fort.
PM Modi hit out at dynasty politics in his address at the Red Fort. Stating that it's a challenge for India, he called upon the citizens to fight against the "bhai-bhateeja", "parivardvadi" politics.
"Corruption is eating away at the foundation of India. I want to fight against it. I call upon the 130 crore Indians to help me fight against corruption," PM Modi said.
"Some people keep glorifying those who have been convicted of corruption and spent time in jail. We must ensure an attitude of hatred towards corruption and the corrupt," he added.
PM Modi stated that apart from cooperative federalism which forms the foundation of our democracy, we also need cooperative competitive federalism.
"We need a competition over progress. If one state has worked to ensure progress, the other must do better," he said.
PM Modi lauded the women of the country for coming at the forefront in varied sectors, from sports to courts to the military.
"In the coming 25 years, I see a large contribution of the women of the country. I urge everyone to ensure the further empowerment of women," he said.